The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-01-29

and could not near any more muSlc.
"My poor boyl" said Michael. :" But
let me hear you play"
Ivan took his fathers violin and play
ed slow, plaintive air upon it, Then he
changed the key and ratified off lively
dance tune. Both we're excellently done.
ct could not have believed it pos
sible," said his father. You will be a
better player than ever have been, l
can see that. Yes, you may go to Patu-
sta's, and tell him I sent you to take my
place. I am sure he will make no
difficulty if you play to him half as we'll
as you did to me just now. You are not
afraid of the long walk"
ZIP No, indeed" smiled Ivan. Keep
your mind easy, Marscha," he continued,
turning to his pale, anxious little sister.
I'll be back tonight, somewhat late,
perhaps, with my pockets full OF coppers,
with a little silver mixed with them, L
hope. But it's good bit Of road, and L
must tell Carlovitz not to expect me to-
night SO good by, father; good by,
Marschal" And off the light-hearted
boy went.
At Patusta's farm all was hustle and
excitement The first feelings of dis
appointment on learning that Michael
could not come himself to the wedding,
and had sent SO young substitute, were
quickly allayed on hearing the mastery
manner in which the lad handled his
fathers bow. The most of the guests
had heard of the accident, and knew of
the great troubles that had one after the
other fallen on the fiddler's family. Gen.
eral sympathy was reused. The dancing,
the happiness, and above all Iwan's love-
ly music, opened their hearts. When the
ball ended, about two in the morning, the
boy was dismissed with not only the
promised payment for his nights work,
but the pocket full of money of which he
had spoken to Marscha, of which the
greater part was not copper, but shining
white silver.
Who SO happy now as Ivan, striding
blithely homeward on his three-mile
walk, his violin slung lightly over his
shoulder, and his hands in his pockets
rafting his gains? He kept whistling
from time to time to give expression to
his pleasure, as he thought of his father
and Marscha and wee toddling Anna.
sob, if mother were only alive!" he
thought, chow pleased she would be!
Poor father need not want anything now.
There's enough here for that clever little
sister Of mine to keep house on for long
time. She is thinking of me now while
she is sitting up waiting for me- I am
later than thought I should be when I
left home. This wood here will cut off
good quarter of mile if cross it,"
With a boys thoughtlessness he left
the beaten track, and turned aside into
pine wood near The sudden darkness
startled him at first, as the faint light OF
the waning moon could not penetrate
through the thick branches. But conf
dent that he could find his way and re-
gain the high-road at the other side of
the wood, his eagerness to reach home
prevented him from turning back. He
contented himself with picking his steps
carefully. Suddenly the ground seemed
to give way beneath him, and he was pre-
cipitated into deep pit. He was stunned
for moment; but the earth at the bot
tom was soft, and no bones we're broken.
Picking himself up, his first thought was
his fathers precious violin. II that were
broken, then, indeed, would the measure
OF their misfortunes be full, and his care
lessness would have done it. To his
great joy it was uniniured. Then he be-
gan feeling about the walls of the pit for
a means of escape. Suddenly something
met his eyes that nearly froze his blood
with horror. Two glowing points like
red-hot Goals glared upon him out of the
dense darkness around. Ivan compre-
hended the matter now. He had fallen
into one OF the pitfalls dug to entrap wild
animals, and was now hopelessly i'm
prisoned with wolf. The creature, he
felt, was COMPOUNDED and terrified for the
moment by the noise of his fall. But he
was convinced that it would soon re-
cognize the helplessness to defend himself
OF its comrade in misfortune, and would
make breakfast of him in shorter time
than it took to think of it all.
Iwan's breath came thick and fast, but
he was not one Of those who easily resign
hope. He called to mind the old ballad
of how valiant Danish chief was taken
in battle by his enemies, and thrust into
cavern full of serpents and other loath-
some and deadly reptiles; how he had
been allowed, as a last boon, to take with
him his harp of seven strings; and how
he had played upon it for night and a
day, using his feet when his fingers failed
him. So long as he played, not creature
attempted to do him hurt, SO great is the
power of music over even the brutes. At
last his enemies were moved, and opened
to him his prison doors.
"Why may not take leaf out of that
old Danish book?" thought Ivan, quickly
unslinging his fiddle and bow. ga violin
is as good as harp any day. If I can
manage to keep the brute off till day
light, somebody is sure to be passing on
the road, or the owners of the trap will
come to see il there is any booty"